Oman is preparing to launch the second phase of its Digital Literacy Training Programme, an ambitious initiative aimed at helping all members of the community improve their IT skills.
The first phase of the scheme was deemed to be a success after 400 staff at four ministries were given IT training. It is hoped to eventually extend the same training to all 108,000 civil servants in the country, as well as to the business community and the general public. According to Dr. Salim bin Sultan Ruziqi, Information Technology Authority (ITA), “bridging the digital divide poses challenges, the most significant of which are institutional bottlenecks and a shortage of skilled manpower. The government, through ITA, is sparing no effort to overcome such obstacles to move towards a 'Digital Oman'.”